Photo: Joseph Wolf / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo
Neomorphus rufipennis
Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 378 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Neomorphus
- Species rufipennis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 378 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis) is a member of the Cuculidae family, within the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Venezuela, Guyana and n Brazil.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 378 g, with a wing length of about 17.1 cm and a tail of around 27 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 594,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo?
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo is a large bird that weighs around 378 g.
Where does the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo live?
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo is found across South America with a range covering SA s Venezuela, Guyana and n Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo belong to?
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo (Neomorphus rufipennis) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo eat?
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo migrate?
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo's range?
The Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 594,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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